Remembering the contributions of Zahid Hassan — a Punjabi novelist, short story writer and researcheron September 20, 2020I have known Zahid Hassan for almost three decades and have seen him growing in stature as a novelist and a short story writer. Initially he was a poet also. He is also a researcher. Presently in his employment with Lahore University of Management sciences (LUMS) where he conducts research. His designation is Research Associate, […]
The story of writer, editor and publisher Maqsood Saqib’s struggleon April 17, 2020This story has been developed on the basis of interview with Maqsood Saqib, writer, editor and publisher of Punjabi language. Maqsood Saqib published the Punjabi magazine named “Maan Boli” from 1986 till 1997 and now he has been publishing the monthly magazine under the name “Pancham” from 1998 onwards. He was born in a Jutt […]
Kalyan Singh Kalyan – the first Sikh Punjabi Professor in Pakistanon April 9, 2020Sardar Kalyan Singh Kalyan is the first professor belonging to Sikh religion in Pakistan. He is Assistant Professor in Punjabi Department at Government College University, Lahore. His research on Punjabi script is a part of Syllabus. He produced a booklet in which he made Punjabi Gurmukhi script easier for students to study and learn from. […]
Punjabi poetry that is a blend of old and new dictionon January 11, 2019Poetry book Asaan Dil Nu Murshad Jaan Laya in Punjabi by Abrar Nadeem starts with his couplet “Warehan Da Jagrata Ki Aei, Sahnu Puch Aklaapa Ki Aei” (Ask me about lying awake for years with accompanied loneliness). From this couplet one can infer that new poetry has found its way out from within traditional poetry. […]
‘Sirf Tumhare Liye’ — poetry subservient to the dream worldon December 31, 2018Equating poetry with love with some conditions is the thesis forwarded by Dr Hassan Farooqi in his poetry book ‘Sirf Tumhare Liye’ (just for you).He contends that both love and poetry are not done by design. They just happen. This is one of the similarities between the two. One cannot put a stop to either […]
Mujeeb Alam — a singer with a soft voiceon December 29, 2018In the embryonic days (mid 1960s to end 1960s) of Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV), its Lahore Center was located at the hinder side of Radio Pakistan Building where presently Sales Section of Radio Pakistan is housed. There was not enough space for administration after making a recording hall and engineering panel. There was need to […]
Ustad Akhtar Khan — classical singer, a qawwal and a Naat khwaanon December 25, 2018It was a cold Saturday morning when I received phone calls from fellow artists Ghulam Abbas and Mudassar Malik saying that Akhtar had died. He died like my mother used to pray that she would be taken to the Almighty without any long ailment that would cause problems for the sick person and the ones […]
Bipin-Babul, music composers with Madan Mohan’s aroma in their compositionson December 3, 2018I was playing the song ‘Jab Chaye Kabhi Sawen Ki Ghata Ro Ro Kei Na Karna Yaad Mujhe’ from Indian film ‘Reshmi Roomaal’ in the voice of Talat Mahmud, a colleague sitting in the Pakistan Music Center observed that listening to it reminded him of the good old days when such songs were heard on […]
Radio Pakistan says goodbye to compares, announcers above 60on December 3, 2018As a child artist I have been associated with Radio Pakistan, Lahore since 1956. My association continued as an adult approved voice of Radio Pakistan. I have been promoting melody music on Radio Pakistan’s programme ‘Hamare Mausiqar’ since five years now broadcasted live every Thursday from 11:05 p.m. to 12 midnight on channels; FM93Megahertz and […]
All Pakistan Music Conference Festival 2018 held in Lahoreon November 16, 2018In this day of nearly all television channels concentrating on political debates, little time is devoted to creating and presenting music and even Pakistan Television Channel (PTV) is neglecting its heritage of producing weekly music programmes (like in 70s and 80s), holding of annual festival by All Pakistan Music Conference (APMC) in Open Air Theater, […]